Study Finds Pollution Exposure Is Higher in Active City Children

New Yorkers, we’ve got some heavy news for you: Your children might be at risk for pollution exposure if they're active in the city, according to a recent study.

Conducted by a team of researchers from Columbia University's College of Physicians & Surgeons and Columbia's Mailman School of Public Health, the study found that children in New York City who've engaged in physical activity were more exposed to pollutants than those who were less active.

Researchers discovered that city-dwelling kids who were physically active had a greater chance of being exposed to black carbon, a pollutant most commonly associated with high-trafficked areas. For the study, 129 children, aged nine to 14, wore wrist motion detectors to measure physical activity over a period of six days. During that time, nearly 60 percent of the participants were considered active, and of that number, 25 percent of the children were exposed to a greater concentration of black carbon compared to the non-active children.

"Black carbon is an indicator of diesel exhaust pollution exposure, so exposures can be high near traffic areas," says Stephanie Lovinsky-Desir, assistant professor of pediatrics at Columbia University Medical Center and the study’s lead author. "However, there are also indoor sources of black carbon, including residential heating and cooking. In New York City, depending on the season, indoor sources can be greater than outdoors. So it is still unclear if indoor or outdoor activity is better."

And although the study focused on children's exposure to pollution, Lovinsky-Desir says the results could help identify how adults can minimize their risk for pollution exposure as well.

"A few studies have begun to explore the effects of the combination of physical activity and air pollution exposure on adult health outcomes, specifically overall mortality and adult lung disease," she says. "Similar to our findings, these studies concluded that the benefits of physical activity might outweigh the risk of pollution exposure. We are currently working to identify if high pollution exposure and physical activity are occurring simultaneously in children. Better understanding of this specific point will allow us to better inform families on how to keep children active and healthy."

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But what exactly do the findings of the study mean for your skin? Well, a few things, says Heidi Waldorf, the director of laser and cosmetic dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.

“The study results cannot be extrapolated directly to the skin of adults, as these were children and the measurement was respiratory, which will be more directly impacted by pollution since inhaled pollutants are in direct contact with mucous membranes of the respiratory tract," says Waldorf, adding, "The skin has the stratum corneum layer, which provides extra protection."

To start, whether you realize it or not, living in a heavily polluted area (hello, New York City) puts your skin more at risk to the formation of free radicals, which can contribute to early signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles.

“As pollution increases and the ozone decreases, we are at risk for additional sun damage,” says Waldorf. “Certain pollutants in water for example, arsenic, can cause actinic keratosis and squamous cell carcinoma.”

Which is why Waldorf recommends slathering on sunscreen—on the face and body—before heading outdoors.

“Protect with sunscreen, clothing, and hats to combat any exposed skin daily,” says Waldorf. “In general, if you live in an area with high levels of air pollution, it is more important to wash your face daily.”